Festival guide
The full moon of Āṣāḍha, kept as Vyāsa Pūrṇimā to honour the guru and Vyāsa, compiler of the Vedas.
Exact dates and timings depend on your location and calendar tradition: check a local pañcāṅga.
Guru Pūrṇimā is also called Vyāsa Pūrṇimā, because tradition holds that Vyāsa, who divided the Veda into four and composed the Mahābhārata and the Purāṇas, was born on this full moon. Every teacher in the tradition is seen as seated on the "seat of Vyāsa" (vyāsa-pīṭha), so honouring one's guru is honouring him.
For renunciants it begins Cāturmāsya, the four months of the rains spent in one place in study. Buddhists celebrate the same full moon as the day of the Buddha's first sermon at Sārnāth.
Sources: Purāṇic tradition of Vyāsa; Śaṅkara tradition of Vyāsa pūjā
Customs differ between families and regions; follow your own tradition where it differs.
4 texts, each opens in its own recitation frame
Vyāsa pūjā by sannyāsins, who then begin Cāturmāsya.
Students honour their gurus with performances.
Tradition holds that Vyāsa, compiler of the Vedas and author of the Mahābhārata, was born on this full moon.
Anyone who has taught you: a spiritual guide, a teacher of music or learning, or your parents.
Learn Sanskrit
Guru Pūrṇimā is a festival (in Devanagari: गुरुपूर्णिमा (Guru Pūrṇimā)). Source: Purāṇic tradition of Vyāsa; Śaṅkara tradition of Vyāsa pūjā.
The full moon of Āṣāḍha, kept as Vyāsa Pūrṇimā to honour the guru and Vyāsa, compiler of the Vedas.
One verse, its meaning, and one word to learn. Two minutes a day.
Enroll Now! Only a Few of the Final 10 Spots Remain at 45% OFF!
All 20 verses of the Yoga of Devotion in Devanagari and transliteration, with a faithful translation, word-by-word meanings, classical commentary,…
Secure checkout
Bhagavad Gītā Chapter 12: Bhakti Yoga, Verse by Verse
$10.45 $19
Limited to the first 50 learners
Support free Sanskrit learning
Learn Sanskrit has no ads, and its texts, dictionary and tools are free. A small gift pays for careful proofreading, new meanings and the servers that keep it all open, for you and for the next learner.
